This month’s new book releases held a few of my absolute favorites for the year, which made it quite hard to winnow them down to just two for my book club picks. A good problem to have though.
This month we’re sending Fantastic Strangelings When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley. It’s a fascinating historical fiction/fantasy about mermaids, sideshows, queer love, race, power, found families and more. And it is gorgeously illustrated inside and out. Big swoon.
And be sure to check your package because we’re dropping Fiesta medals in to celebrate 5 years of Strangelings! (I believe we still have a few left if you want to join the club this month, but hurry before they’re gone.)
And if you’re a member of the Nightmares from Nowhere Book Club you’re getting one of my favorite books of the year, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. This is one of those books that I recommend to both horror lovers and non-horror lovers because even though it is filled with vampires, ghosts, zombies, necromancers and a bit of gore, it is also tremendously smart and funny. Like if Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was possessed by demons. It’s the first in a series but it ends in a way that leaves you wanting more but is satisfying enough alone.
And if two books are not enough to distract you from the world being on fire, I got you. Here’s are a few other new May releases I loved:
The Butcher’s Daughter: The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs. Lovett by Corinne Legh Clark and David Demchuk – The story of the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd has gripped fans but little has been told of Mrs. Lovett, Todd’s partner in crime. Until now. A bloodcurdling correspondence of horror and intrigue, based on the original Victorian penny dreadful that started it all.
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh – Did you read Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series about a dark and dangerous magical boarding school? It’s like that but from the perspective of the teachers. If you’ve been or loved a teacher you’ll love this one.
The True Happiness Company: How a Girl Like Me Falls for a Cult Like That By Veena Dinavahi – In this wrenching, darkly funny memoir, a young Indian American woman’s quest for mental health is derailed by a charismatic alternative therapist who pulls her into his Mormon self-help cult. Riveting.
We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle. I love these people and this book.
Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name by Luvvie Ajayi – A lovely children’s book by my friend Luvvie for every child who could never find their name on a keychain.
Happy reading!
The ‘We Can Do Hard Things’ authors were on The Daily Show recently. They are delightful.
I was a kid who could never find her name on a keychain. Warms my heart that somebody wrote such a book.
Hi Jenny! Have you ever thought of offering a “comfort read” book club? I can’t handle the horror, and your Fantastic Stranglings picks seem to have some angst/political strife/deeper meanings. But with the number of your readers struggling with mental health and/or physical illness, a comfort book club might be a hit.
Thank you for being you! You bring so much joy to so many, and that rings out like ripples in a lake.
(That’s a really good idea! We do have a club that’s called Happy Endings that is romance based and it’s very lovely and full of good feelings so you may want to check it out. ~ Jenny)
I can relate with poor Luvvie. I go by Storm because my real first name, Avril, is just too much of a hassle. People mishear it, misspell it, and worst of all, mispronounce it. I went by April instead for the first 12 years or so because even my own family members had trouble with it. My weird mother decided that since we had a ridiculously French last name and I was supposed to be born in April that it would be awesome. I was born in May, but she was set on it. I turned 57 last week and I have never, ever met another Avril. I actually kinda love my name now, which is why I never changed it officially.
Funny thing was, when I moved to England as a kid, that was the first time/place I started finding my name on stuff, because it turns out that it’s a much more common name there, though they pronounce it “AV-rill” like the weird Canadian girl.
Please, parents-to-be out there who are considering names and thinking of going with something “unique”… don’t go crazy with it, it can really suck.
Your Pal With First Name Issues,
Storm the Klingon
My friend LeAnna Ehrsam released her Cosy yet also murderous Paranormal women’s fiction (I swear there’s a genre in there!) Curses Dance With Bourbon (Book 2 in A Lost Souls Stories). It’s a warm hug and love letter to women.
The educational aspect of Worldguessr makes it a great tool for learning geography in a fun and engaging way.
OOH that cover! So gorgeous, and these are exactly what I need to avoid the end-of-school craziness of May. Thank you!
Did I miss April’s post? The last one I saw was Kristen Arnett’s book in March.
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thanks Geometry Dash
The additional releases in May also feel right. I love how The Butcher’s Daughter reclaims Ms. Lovett’s voice—we definitely need more stories that focus on women who are overlooked in classic stories.
thanks Mapquest Directions
In a world full of hazards and chaos, one bunny dares to leap. Poor Bunny invites you on a frantic journey of survival, filled with traps, surprises, and the kind of action that keeps you hitting “retry.” Poor Bunny
Thank you for these amazing recommendations! The mix of genres and themes sounds captivating, especially When the Tides Held the Moon and The Devils. Your passion truly shines through. Excited to dive into these stories and celebrate the 5-year Strangelings milestone! sprunki shifted
I appreciate such a diverse book list, with historical fantasy and horror novels; I can always find something that suits my taste. For high-speed drift thrills, Drift Boss offers tricky levels and satisfying drift combos!
The Bloggess always has such great taste in books, and this May’s list, as always, didn’t disappoint me
Thank you so much for these recommendations! I’ve been in such a reading slump lately and needed some fresh ideas. Adding ‘The Midnight Library’ to my cart immediately. Your descriptions are always so spot-on!
Books that distract, engage, and inspire are like mental vacations. Pairing them with exciting travel and tour packages makes the experience even richer. You can read on the go, discover new worlds in pages, and explore real destinations for the ultimate adventure.
Thank you so much for these book recommendations! I’m always on the hunt for new books that can completely draw me in, and these all sound so interesting. The mermaid novel, in particular, sounds like the perfect next cozy read. I can’t wait to check them out! If you want to relax, you can play Scrandle.
Fiesta medals, dark humor, and demonic adventures? Count me in! Can’t wait to dive into The Devils — sounds wickedly fun
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